Dec 27, 2012

family diy: party hats

2012 has been an amazing year for me here at Salsa Pie. Now, if I were a better blogger, I'd round up why it was amazing, but instead I'm going to send you off into the new year with a Family Craft Project for making New Year's Eve Party Hats. It's one part recycle (use those old party hats you've got stashed in the closet) and another part Kraft paper, school glue and pipe cleaner action.

I like the idea of getting the whole family involved in making these. While working on them you can talk about the year that's coming to a close and make resolutions for the new one.

But before we jump into our project, I'd like to thank you for being a reader, either longtime or new, thank you for your support and for stopping by to visit and poke around. You are always, always welcome and I wish you the very best 2013!

Step 1
You can do this two ways: Option 1--Roll out the brown Kraft paper and decorate it with markers OR, Option 2---trace the party hat (folded out) then decorate the inside. We used both methods.

Step 2
Unfold the party hat and lay flat then trace the party hat onto your decorated Kraft paper.

Step 3

Once your trace your hat onto the Kraft paper, cut it out.

Step 4
Glue the Kraft paper onto the outside of the party hat.

Note:
The kids preferred the method of tracing the hat then decorating inside the tracing.

Step 5
Using your pipe cleaners, create shapes: stars, zig-zags, diamonds, or even pom-pom-ish sprigs. Attach a small piece of the pipe cleaner to the shape by twisting it around the base of the shape or center of the pom-pom them attach to the opening of the top inside of the hat (folded flat) using hot glue.

Pro Tip: so you won't burn your fingers, cut out small strips of kraft paper to use to press down onto the pipe cleaner shape and hot glue once you apply it.

Step 6

Close your hat using hot glue and you are ready to go! Optionally you could replace the elastic band on the hat with ribbon. We left the elastic band and used the hats as they were.

CAROLINE GRAVINO

Hi, I'm Caroline Gravino. I design craft projects and produce a video series called Crafts for Kids for PBS. This website has evolved to become mainly a portfolio of my work.

Fueled by the belief that we foster an innovative spirit in children by making things with them, I started this blog in 2009 and named it Salsa Pie. Today, I write about project ideas for the whole family and provide all types of creative content for magazines & websites.